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We've made it a family tradition to watch a Christmas movie every day (or evening) during December since we had littlies in the house.
This is the list for this year, in no order. The choice is random, the movie that comes out of the box on the night is the movie we watch. Sometimes we all sit down to watch, sometimes it's just Wayne and me. Over the years the theme of the movies has changed to reflect how the kids have grown up. Now we're all adults, most of the movies are more suited to adults, but some of our favourites will always be suitable for even young children. I guess Christmas brings out the child in all of us, even if it's just for a movie. Here's a list of the movies in the box for this year (if we don't have the DVD, I've made a card with the movie name on it and where to find it on Netflix). They're not all necessarily actual Christmas movies, but they are favourites that we enjoy watching at this time of year. 1. Miracle on 34th Street - remake 2. Christmas with the Kranks 3. The Santa Clause 4. The Santa Clause 2 5. The Santa Clause 3 6. Dear Santa 7. Holiday Inn 8. How Sarah got Her Wings 9. Love Actually 10. The Holiday 11. Angels in the Snow 12. Miracle on 34th Street - 1947 version, and a favourite of mine 13. Home Alone 14. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 15. Elf 16. Christmas in Connecticut -1945 version with Barbara Stanwyk, another Christmas favourite of mine 17. A Christmas Prince (the Royal Wedding) - this is a new addition for 2018 18. One Magic Christmas 19. High Society - not srictly a Christmas movie, just a favourite 20. Bridget Jones Diary 21. Little Women - it's not Christmas if we don't watch Little Women 22. 7 Brides for 7 Brothers - this is one of my mother's favourite movies, it's a sentimental inclusion 23. A Holiday Engagement 24. It's a Wonderful Life - this is always reserved for Christmas Eve, before we watch the Carols by Candlelight
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 I loved school holidays. Having the kids home was pure joy for me. It not only gave me an extra couple of hours in my day (no school runs), but our days were relaxed and easy. I planned easy meals, didn't fuss too much about tidying up toys and games and scheduled an extra special outing or two to keep us all entertained. We also had a list of over 200 things to do, most of them free, all of them cheap, that would keep everyone happy and entertained during the holidays. I even threw in a few household chores - after all, not everything has to be pure entertainment and chores can be fun. I've published the list before, but here it is again, just in time for the winter school holidays. School hols start here in Victoria tomorrow, so, if you are struggling to end the "there's nothing to do" whines, choose a few things off the list, and then have fun. • ride bikes • roller blade • basketball • play board games • make a tent out of blankets • squirt with hoses - but don t waste water • run through the sprinkler • have a skip-a-thon • start researching your family tree • start documenting your family tree • organise and plan a family reunion • hold a family reunion • read books - visit your local library and try some you haven t read before • blow bubbles • colour free templates you've downloaded and printed • play with play dough • press flowers • do crafts with pressed flowers - make a start on your Christmas cards • write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal • clean bedroom (one of my favourites) • vacuum living room • clean bathroom • make a craft - try something new • draw • make homemade play dough • paint • pull weeds • give your favourite person a surprise party • watch a movie • write stories • use binoculars - look for as many different things as you can • use magnifying glass • use microscope • bird watching - how many different breeds can you find in your backyard? • write a play • act out a play • invent circus acts • perform a circus • play card games (snap, old maid, go fish) • make art on the footpath with chalk • play catch • play baseball • collect rocks • collect leaves • collect feathers • play Frisbee • make Frisbees out of old plastic lids, decorate with markers • dust the house • brush the pet • write letters to the editor of your local newspaper about articles you are interested in • read a magazine • play dress-up • play Cowboys • pick vegetables and then help Mum cook dinner • play outside with the pet • build a fort in your rooms • build a fort in the backyard • do a jigsaw puzzle • play on the computer • surprise Mum and Dad with breakfast in bed • listen to a story or book on tape • do extra schoolwork to get ahead • do brain teasers (i.e.: crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.) • cook • prepare lunch • surprise a neighbour with a good deed • play shops • prepare a "restaurant" lunch with menus • hold a tea party • have a Teddy bear picnic • play with toy cars • play dolls • play house • chase butterflies • collect caterpillars and bugs • plant a garden or a pot • collect seeds • hunt for four-leaf clovers • learn magic tricks • put on a magic show • plant a container garden • sprout seeds or beans • grow a grass head • make sock puppets • put on a puppet show • make Christmas presents • make homemade wrapping paper • make homemade gift cards • make picture frames from twigs glued onto sturdy cardboard • crochet or knit • make doll clothes • sew buttons in designs on old shirts • run relay races • make bookmarks • take a quiet rest time • take a shower or bubble bath • bath a pet • feed the birds • watch the clouds • organise a dresser drawer • clean under the bed • empty dishwasher • vacuum under the couch cushions and keep any change found • write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two to do • whittle • whittle bars of soap • practice musical instruments • perform a family concert • teach yourself to play a musical instrument (recorder, harmonica, guitar) • fold clean washing • sweep kitchen or bathroom floors • sweep front paths • sweep back verandah • sweep driveway • wash car - on the grass, of course! • vacuum car • vacuum or dust window blinds • clean bathroom mirrors • clean sliding glass doors • clean inside of car windows • wash bicycles • clean garage • play in the sandpit • build a sandcastle • work with clay • copy your favourite book illustration • design your own game • build with blocks or Lego • create a design box (copper wire, string, odds-and-ends of things destined for the garbage, pom-poms, thread, yarn, etc.) • plan a neighbourhood or family Olympics • have a marble tournament • find a model train club and see if they have visitors at their running days • take your bikes to the local BMX park and have a picnic and a day of riding • spend an hour or two at the local skateboard park learning some new tricks • paint a picture with lemon juice on white paper and hang it in a sunny window and see what happens in a few days • finger paint with instant pudding • make dessert • make dinner • have a sleepover • have a pamper party and paint your nails • make popcorn and watch an old movie • make toffee with Mum • make pink or blue (or whatever colour) pancakes for lunch • give your pet a party • start a nature diary • have a read-a-thon with a friend or sibling • have a neighbourhood bike wash • play Kick the Can • check out a science book and try some experiments • make up a story • catch butterflies and then let them go • arrange photo albums • find bugs and start a collection • do some stargazing • decorate bikes or scooters and have a neighbourhood parade • play hide-and-seek • create a symphony with bottles and pans and rubber bands • listen to the birds sing • try to imitate bird calls • read a story to a younger child • find out what's on at the Library and then go have free fun • find shapes in the clouds • string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace • put together a family newsletter • write reviews of movies, plays, TV shows or concerts you see during the summer • bake a cake • bake a batch of biscuits • decorate a shoe box to hold your treasures • create family scrapbooks with old photos • glue noodles into a design on paper • play hopscotch • play jacks • make up a song • make a teepee out of blankets • write in your diary • find an ant colony and spill some food and watch what happens • play charades • make up a story by drawing pictures • draw a cartoon strip • make a map of your bedroom, house or neighbourhood • call a friend • cut pictures from old magazines and write a story • make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines • do a secret service for a neighbour • plan a treasure hunt • make a treasure map • make up a "Bored List" of things to do • plan a special activity for your family • search your house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries from the encyclopaedia or online • plan an imaginary trip to the moon • plan an imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go • write a science-fiction story • find a new pen pal • make up a play using old clothes as costumes • make up a game for practicing math facts • have a Spelling Bee • make up a game for practicing spelling • surprise an elderly neighbour or relative by weeding his/her garden • Finger paint with shaving cream • collect sticks and mud and build a bird's nest • write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper • make a hideout or clubhouse • make paper airplanes • have paper airplane races • learn origami • make an obstacle course in your backyard  After you've made your choices, use the Holiday Fun Planner to schedule all that fun, so you don't forget what you've planned or over-schedule (holidays mean down-time too). Stick your Holiday Fun Planner on the fridge so everyone can see what's coming up and have something to look forward to.
 I know my children are well and truly grown up, but this cloud dough is so much fun we've all been having a little play with the batch I made to see if it works. Cloud dough is mouldable, just like playdough, but it feels like flour and you can run your fingers through it and it will be soft and silky.
The kids (big and little) that played with this batch had a ball drizzling it through their fingers then making shapes with it. The boys even had a cloud dough castle competition! Best of all, unlike play dough, if you forget to put the lid on the container it doesn't dry out! Cloud Dough You will need: 1kg plain flour 1 cup of baby oil Directions: Put the flour and baby oil in a large container. I used a four litre ice cream container to mix in so that it could also be the storage container. Mix the flour and baby oil together with your hands until the dough will hold a shape when you squeeze or pack it together. This will take a long time - about 5 minutes so don't give up. Just keep on mixing and squeezing. This dough uses baby oil so make sure your littlies aren't tempted to eat it. Baby oil is used in this recipe because food grade oils tend to go rancid - eww! If you want to use a food grade oil go ahead, just remember that you'll need to store your cloud dough in the fridge and it will only keep for about a week before you'll need to make a new batch. You can colour your cloud dough. The easiest way to do this is to either add liquid food colour to the baby oil before you mix it into the flour or if you have them, add powdered food colouring to the flour before you add the baby oil. I found the easiest (for clean-up anyway) way to play with cloud dough was to put it into a 7 litre tub so it didn't spill over the sides. Or just take it outside. Or put down a plastic tablecloth. I had dozens when my kids were little - they saved the furniture and the floors and made cleaning up messy play a breeze. You can find plastic tablecloths at $2 shops and every home with littlies should have at least one for messy play.  It's spring. The weather is slowly improving and spring weekends are meant for fun. However, it’s easy to fall into a weekend rut. This is especially the case if you work all week and use the weekends to catch up on household chores and errands. And if your budget is tight then weekend fun may seem impossible. Here are a few tips, ideas, and strategies to have more fun this weekend without having to spend a fortune.
1. Get Outside Getting out into the fresh air almost automatically puts a smile on everyone’s face. And guess what - nature is free. Walk to the park and play a game of Frisbee, football, or cricket. Head to the beach or pool and splash around. Take a nature hike or explore a new outdoor area in your community. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. 2. Make a List Make a list of the things that you want to do and can do on the weekends. This way, when you’re stumped for ideas you can simply turn to your list and make a choice. 3. Put It on the Calendar Many museums, zoos, and other community facilities offer discount days, free days, and special events. Make a list of these and put them on your calendar. Then when you’re trying to decide what to do this weekend you can see all of the possibilities and take advantage of local events. 4. Fairs, Fetes and Festivals Most fairs, fetes and festivals are free to attend and they can be a lot of fun. Add them to your calendar and choose one or two to attend. Set a budget in advance and pack your lunch so you stay on budget. It’s easy to spend a fortune on food and snacks. Find the best of the fairs, fetes and festivals by asking the people you know. They will be able to recommend the best school fete and the best retirement village or church fair and the very best music and historic festivals for you to enjoy. 5. Take Advantage of Short-Term Travel Packages One of the best ways to see the world on a budget is to have an open schedule and open-minded approach to where you go. If you want to get away for a long weekend, visit the discount travel broker websites and review the last-minute packages or tune in to the TV travel shows. You can often save more than 50% on a trip and the spontaneity is fun. You don't even have to leave town. Be a tourist in your own town and see the sights like a visitor, going to the tourist information office and finding out all the free sights and places to visit, then go and enjoy them. 6. Imaginative Projects What do your children love to do? Do they enjoy building things? Do they like putting on shows? Let their imaginations run free and spend a weekend with a creative project. Put on a play in the back yard and film it. Build a playhouse and paint it. If your children love volcanoes then have a science fair. If they love to cook then stage your very own Cupcake Wars in your kitchen. 7. Try Something New Have each family member make a list of something they want to learn or do this summer. Give them a few examples so they don’t write down things like “Go to Paris” or “Ride a camel.” Children can get carried away. Take a look at their list and then create a plan to address one item on each person’s list. You may find that you’re rock climbing one weekend and shopping for vintage clothing the next. Check your local paper. Cheapskater Lee found a "help wanted" ad in her local paper that was fun, educational and helping the local wildlife. She took her partner and children and they put together and painted little houses for an endangered possum native to their area. Then they went to the park and helped put them into the trees. All work and no play makes weekends dull and the work week even harder. Teach your children to take time away from the television and computer, and the shopping centre, to have relax and just have fun. And enjoy your family time together – it’s precious. From Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing |
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